Quakes' Bernardez, Chavez called in to Honduran national team duty

SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes players Victor Bernardez and Marvin Chavez have been called to Honduran national team duty ahead of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers against Mexico and Panama.

The duo will join their countrymen following San Jose’s match against the LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center on Saturday, Aug. 31 (7:30 p.m. PT / CSN Plus, 1590 KLIV, 1370 KZSF). Honduras is fourth in the group with four games remaining. They’ll face Mexico on the road on Friday, Sept. 6 at 6:30 p.m. PT followed by a home match against Panama on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 5 p.m. PT.

Bernardez, 31, has 64 career caps with Los Catrachos. The 2012 MLS Best XI selection has been a mainstay on the back line for his home country during the qualification process. He has started five of Honduras’ six matches in the hexagonal and featured in each of their six matches during the third round of qualifying. Bernardez has started and played in 20 games for San Jose this season with one goal and one assist.

Chavez, 29, has 37 career caps for his country. The La Ceiba native last suited up for Los Catrachos during the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup where he appeared in four of five matches and scored a goal in a 2-0 win against Haiti on July 8 at Red Bull Arena. Chavez has appeared in two games off the bench for Honduras during hexagonal play. So far in 2013, he has made 12 appearances for San Jose with one goal and one assist.

Due to their national team commitment, Bernardez and Chavez will miss San Jose’s match against the Philadelphia Union on Sunday, Sept. 8 at Buck Shaw Stadium (8 p.m. PT / ESPN2, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF).